Sometimes I wish our busy days had enough hours for big, grand adventures every day but the truth is they just don’t. And that’s okay. 

Our busy days are full of things we love and the good thing is we can still make time for adventures. 

Sometimes our adventures have to be little and quick and inexpensive but they can still feel like big adventures. 

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Since moving to San Diego we have found quite a few quick little walks that feel like adventures – at least to little kids and often to me as well. 

Here are 10 of our Favorites:

1. Piedras Pintadas Interpretive Trail

I could just have easily written “HIKE” here. There are dozens of quicker easy hikes in the San Diego area that are fun with kids. This is one of our favorites for the ease of getting there from us, uncrowded trails, and just enough climbing to make it fun for my kids.

2. Kate Sessions Park

If you have a smaller kiddo then just running up and down the hill near the parking lot could feel like an adventure and you will get to enjoy the stunning view. If your kids are up for a little hike (about 1 mile) then head off on the trail behind the playground.

3. Mission Bay

Mission Bay has beaches around every corner. We love riding our bikes around the Bay and playing at the playground at Fulton Street. (Great for little kids too!) Our favorite however is kayaking or swimming in the little cove beaches. North Cove Public Beach and Mission Point Park are two of our favorites.

4. Walk out on a Pier

Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach and the pier in Ocean Beach are both fun quick adventures. There is some cool about being over the water instead of just standing on the beach looking out at it. My kids love watching the surfers and watching the fishermen. You can also bring your own pole and give it a try if your kids are a little older.

5. Tide Pools

Tide pools are one of our absolute favorite adventures. I probably wouldn’t have attempted this when my kids were toddlers because the rocks can be pretty slippery, but once you have about a 3 or 4 year old these are endless entertainment. Dress for your kids to get wet, I highly suggest shoes with good grips (we use these Keen Sandals), and check tide charts beforehand to make sure you’re hitting a low tide period.

6. Watch Seals

This is on most touristy lists for San Diego, but it is so super cool. Our favorite is going right around when the new babies are born (early Springtime) but any time of year seeing seals and sea lions up close and in their natural environment is really cool. I usually park around Children’s Beach in La Jolla and then we walk north along the coast.

7. Balboa Park Hike

There are 5 trails in Balboa Park and they vary in length and difficulty. You can read details about each on the Balboa Park website. I love that these are all so close and offer easy parking (although Saturdays can be a little tricky late morning and early afternoon) and still feel like you’re getting away in nature despite being so close to downtown.

Also Read: In Depth Look at Balboa Park for Families

8. Suspension Bridge

This is one of those quirky things that you could drive by a million times and never see. It’s close to Balboa Park so we usually pair the two. Just search Spruce Street Suspension Bridge and google maps will lead you right there.

9. Visit the Sculpture Garden at Kit Carson Park

Speaking of quirky – this is the quirkiest on the list. This Sculpture Garden is kind of random and a little bit of a drive north of San Diego but my kids LOVED it. We brought along “adventure supplies” which I always suggest but they loved exploring the sculptures, drawing, and taking photos.

Kit Carson Park also has a fun playground and is close to the San Diego Safari Park if you want to make more of a day of your time up there.

10. Watch the Sunset at Torrey Pines

This is possibly my favorite. There are a lot of beautiful places to watch the sunset in San Diego but so far this is my favorite. The beach at Torrey Pines is beautiful and the sunsets never fail to amaze me. My kids love the excuse to run and play on the beach. I always bring something for them to do – kites, model airplanes, sand toys, etc. This one is perfect for the Winter months when the beach is uncrowded and the sun sets earlier.

Also Read: Little Walks Big Adventures
You Can Take Anywhere

As adults we like to rush through our days as quickly as possible checking things off our to-do list, but sometimes children can teach us why we need to slow down. I learned a little about this a couple weeks ago. 

We were at German Fest. It was filled with sausages and beer and loud polka music. This all would have been great except for the fact that Mississippi has yet to get the memo about Fall weather and it was hot. Really, really hot. 

Our twins were red faced and getting crabby. My husband and I were starting to look at each other with that ‘We’re not going to last much longer” look. And then my son said he wanted to go see the firetruck.

For reasons I don’t entirely understand, there was a firetruck celebrating German Fest. They were letting kids hop in the front and offering them coloring books. Sure, we said. We stomped across the grass and assumed they would pop in the truck, jump out, grab their coloring books and we could head for the AC. 

Our son climbed in the front and then out the other side. Our daughter started in the back and then hopped out. They both started wandering around the truck. I suggested we get coloring books to speed along this process. 

Then my son asked me, “What is this for?” He was pointing to one of the many switches on the side. I had no clue and I could see that he was curious, so I told him to ask a firefighter. He was a little unsure about this, but his sister bravely walked up to one of these large men and said “What does that do?” 

The firefighter bent down and answered her question. This led to another question and another. Soon they were following the firefighter around the truck as he demonstrated everything to them. Where the hoses were and how they got hooked up. What was inside the different compartments and what they used each item for. Their questions were endless and his patience, seemingly, was as well. 

They were utterly fascinated and this kind man took the time to share his expertise with these two young children. 

We forgot about the heat. We forgot about needing water and wanting AC. 

We learned a lot about firetrucks and then when they were done, they grabbed those coloring books and headed for the car full of ideas.

GO: Field Trip Ideas

Visit a Fire Station
from Bambini Travel

Fire Station Open Day
from Play Learn Everyday

Fire Hydrant Walk
from Bambini Travel

READ + SING: 

10 Books about Firetrucks
from My Storytime Corner

Books about Fire Trucks
from Growing Book by Book

Books about Fire Fighters
from Gift of Curiosity

STOP, DROP AND ROLL (Song)
From Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes

Five Little Firefighters (Craft + Song)
from JDaniel4’s Mom

ENVIRONMENT:

Melissa and Doug Firefighter Costumes
find it here

Play Firetrucks
find it here

Fire Station Duplo Set
find it here

Firetruck Party Activities and Decorations
from Mamas Happy Hive

CREATE: 

Cereal Box Fire Truck
from Play Create Learn

Firetruck Building Invitation
from Bambini Travel

Counting at the Fire Station (free printable)
from Growing Book by Book

Easy Shapes Fire Truck Craft
from Sugar Aunts

Firefighter Thank You Cards
from Fun Handprint Art

Homemade Cards for Firefighters
from B-Inspired Mama

Fire Truck Flame Painting
from JDaniel4’s Mom

PLAY:

Firefighters Dramatic Play
from Play Create Learn

Fun Ways for Kids to Learn about Fire Safety
from Edventures with Kids

Fast and Easy Fire Truck Play
from Kitchen Floor Crafts

Emergency Vehicles Unit
from Every Star is Different

F is for Firetruck
from Theres Just One Mommy

Firefighter Brain Break Movement Ideas
from Pink Oatmeal

 Fireman Birthday Party with Great Play Ideas
from The Jenny Evolution

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Interest Led Unit Ideas